Equipment for inserting packets into bags

ABSTRACT

Equipment ( 10 ) for inserting packets ( 11 ) into bags ( 12 ) comprises a device ( 30 ) suitable for deforming the bag and squaring and stiffening means ( 40 ) of the bag suitable for forming a draft and guide for the insertion of one or more packets of products.

The present invention relates to equipment for inserting packets intobags.

More specifically, the invention relates to equipment for the insertionof sealed packets preferably containing food products, into bags.

The packaging of products grouped into sealed packets, is currentlyeffected using boxes, for example made of cardboard, in which the formedand sealed packets are inserted.

For reasons linked to preserving the product fragrance, which, in thecase of aromatic or spicy products, such as tea, is of fundamentalimportance, the use of bags for the external packaging, instead ofboxes, has become widely diffused.

The packaging of containers which have a limited rigidity or are of thesemi-soft type, such as a bag, however, causes considerable problems,for example in the insertion phase of the packet or in the arrangementof several packets in a bag.

This problem is particularly felt with respect to a rapid and effectiveseizure and moving and also to the necessity of an orderly arrangementof the packets inside the bag.

A different drawback of the types of packaging according to the knownart, relates to the materials used, polyethylene and other plasticmaterials for the packets and box cover, and cardboard, and therefore acellulose material, for the box itself.

These different materials lead to the necessity of a differentiatedcollection and impose, according to the laws in force in certainCountries, additional costs for the producer.

The necessity is currently felt for effecting packaging by means ofpackets inserted into bags and providing equipment for the insertion ofpackets containing products into bags.

One of the main objectives of the present invention consists inproviding equipment which allows the automated and optimized insertionof one or more packets inside a bag.

A further objective of the invention consists in providing equipment ofthe type mentioned above, suitable for operating on soft packets.

The Applicant has now found that it is possible to effect the packagingof packets inside bags by means of insertion equipment comprising adevice suitable for deforming the bag and squaring and stiffening meansof the bag, suitable for forming a draft and guide for the insertion ofone or more packets of products.

An aspect of the present invention relates to equipment for insertingpackets into bags comprising a device suitable for deforming the bag andsquaring and stiffening means of the bag, suitable for forming a draftand guide for the insertion of one or more packets of products accordingto what is specified in claim 1.

Further characteristics of the invention are the object of the dependentclaims.

The characteristics and advantages of equipment for the insertion ofpackets into bags according to the present invention will appear moreevident from the following illustrative and non-limiting descriptionreferring to the schematic drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a raised schematic side view of a portion of the equipmentaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the portion of equipment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a deformed bag before the intervention of thesquaring and stiffening means;

FIG. 4 is a partial raised section which represents the insertion phaseby means of the equipment according to the invention.

With reference to the figures, these illustrate a piece of equipment 10for the insertion of sealed packets 11 preferably containing foodproducts, inside bags 12.

The equipment can obviously be used for any kind of product packedinside a packet 11 of the rigid or soft type, but is electively used inthe field of the packaging of fragrant and aromatic food products, suchas tea which, once inserted in sachets, is first sealed inside packets11 and is then packed into bags 12 having a limited rigidity.

In particular, the bags are made of plastic materials such aspolyethylene for food or similar, and have a limited rigidity whichallows self-sustainment in an open position and in elevation.

In this respect, the bag 12 preferably has a substantiallyparallelepiped form with side walls 12 a positioned parallel to thetranslation direction of the bags and front walls 12 b, transversal tosaid direction.

The equipment is described with reference to a single line 13 and bags12 suitable for containing two overlying packets 11, in industrialapplications, however, it can be made up of a series consisting ofparallel production lines, and various rows of overlying packets can beinserted inside the bags.

The number of lines or packets to be inserted in each bag can varyaccording to the production demands and in relation to the dimensions ofthe products.

The equipment, object of the present invention is integrated in aninsertion station 20 in a packaging plant, and is arranged along afeeding line 13 of bags coming from a forming plant or from adistributor and supported on trays 14 having folded edges 15, suitablefor containing and also supporting the bags. Adjacent to said bagfeeding line 13, there is a feeding of sealed packets containing theproducts.

Said feeding can consist of a parallel or transversal line with respectto the bag feeding line, or can envisage other packet feeding meansallowing an adequate rate.

The line 13 comprises a conveyor 16 for moving the trays 14 between thevarious operating stations.

In particular, a predefined number of trolleys is transported to theintroduction station 20 which envisages the presence, above the line 13for each bag, of a bag deformation device 30 and squaring and stiffeningmeans 40 of the bag, suitable for forming a draft and guide for theinsertion of one or more packets of products.

The deformation device of the bag comprises a pair of suction sleeves 31which can be transversally translated, symmetrically and synchronously,with respect to the moving direction of the bags (in the direction ofthe arrows F of FIG. 3) and are positioned opposite each other to theside of the bag 12 close to its upper opening 12′ and in a centralposition so as to withhold by suction a portion of each side wall 12 aof the bag.

The suction sleeves 31 are subsequently withdrawn and cause thedeformation of the bag by enlarging the mouth 12′ to facilitate theintroduction of the squaring and stiffening means 40.

The squaring and stiffening means 40 are mainly aimed at squaring themouth of the bag and effecting the necessary stiffening for allowing therapid and precise introduction of the packets 11.

In particular, these squaring and stiffening means 40 are electivelyused with packages of the soft type, for which they also have a guidingfunction for correct positioning inside the bag.

In this respect, they can be produced in various equivalent forms suchas simple perimetric frames or also as fingers destined for the fouredges of the bag. Although the form described and illustrated ispreferable for soft packets, it should be considered as being purelyillustrative.

The squaring and stiffening means 40 according to the preferredembodiment of the present invention comprise a pair of shaped blades 41having flap-folded side edges 42 so as to produce a “U” section.

Said blades are supported by pins 43, capable of effecting a rotationand bringing the blades to a horizontal position in which they cover themouth 12′ in a substantially vertical position by rotation of about 90degrees, whereby the ends of the blades are inserted inside the bag,engaging the front walls 12 b squaring the bag; the suction sleeves 31contemporaneously stop their suction action and release the side wallswhich, squared by the flaps 42, give the mouth 12′ of the bag a squareform having a maximum amplitude.

In this position, the insertion of the packets is extremely easy, andthey are carried by suitable gripping means 21 suitable for the type ofpacket to be transported and programmed in relation to the type ofpacket and quantity of packets to be inserted in each bag.

The rotation of the pins 43 and consequently of the shaped blades 41 isadvantageously effected by means of suitable leverisms comprising a pairof rods 44, one for each side of the station 20, connected at the endsby means of transmission levers 45 and driven by at least one linearactuator 46, preferably two linear actuators 46, capable of producingthe opening, i.e. the downward rotation for the squaring of the bag, andthe closing, i.e. the upward rotation to free the bag after theintroduction of the packet or packets.

The single pins 43 are connected to said rods 44 so as to transfer thetranslating movement provided by each linear actuator 46 to anangulation rotation sufficient (for example about 90 degrees) forpassing from one position to another.

In this way a synchronized movement is obtained of both the series ofblades envisaged in the station in both the opening and closing for thewhole station 20.

1. Equipment (10) for inserting packets (11) into bags (12)characterized in that it comprises a device (30) suitable for deformingthe bag (12) and squaring and stiffening means (40) of the bag (12)suitable for forming a draft and guide for the insertion of one or morepackets (11) of products.
 2. The equipment (10) according to claim 1,wherein said device (30) comprises a pair of suction sleeves (31) whichcan be transversally translated, symmetrically and synchronously, withrespect to the moving direction of the bags and are positioned oppositeeach other to the side of the bag (12) close to its upper opening (12′)and in a central position so as to withhold by suction a portion of eachside wall (12 a) of the bag.
 3. The equipment (10) according to claim 2,wherein said squaring and stiffening means (40) comprise a pair ofshaped blades (41) having flap-folded side edges (42) so as to produce a“U” section.
 4. The equipment (10) according to claim 3, wherein saidshaped blades (41) are supported by pins (43) capable of effecting arotation and bringing the blades to a horizontal position in which theycover the mouth (12′) in a substantially vertical position by rotationof about 90 degrees, whereby the ends of the blades are inserted insidethe bag, engaging the front walls (12 b) and give the mouth (12′) of thebag a square form having a maximum amplitude.
 5. The equipment (10)according to claim 4, wherein said pins (43) are connected to rotationleverisms comprising a pair of rods (44), one for each side of thestation, connected at the ends by means of transmission levers (45) anddriven by at least one linear actuator (46), preferably two linearactuators (46).
 6. The equipment (10) according to claim 5, wherein saidequipped is positioned along a feeding line (13) of bags (12) comingfrom a forming plant or from a distributor and supported on trays (14)having folded edges (15), suitable for containing and also supportingthe bags.
 7. The equipment (10) according to claim 6, wherein said bagsare made of a plastic material such as polyethylene for food or similar,and have a limited rigidity which allows self-sustainment in an openposition and in elevation and have a substantially parallelepiped formdelimited by side walls (12 a) positioned parallel to the translationdirection of the bags and front walls (12 b), transversal to saiddirection.
 8. The equipment (10) according to claim 6, wherein saidpackets (11) are of the soft type.
 9. A packaging plant equipped withequipment (10) according to claim 1.